Nashville, TN // 10.9.19
Canadian band Half Moon Run played the Exit/In in Nashville, on tour in support of their highly anticipated third album ‘A Blemish In The Great Light’, produced by none other than Joe Chiccarelli (Beck, Cage The Elephant, My Mourning Jacket). From the minute they took the stage, the four-piece had the audience entranced with their emotive performance. With the first notes, the packed venue was swaying along and singing.
Those present seemed to know the lyrics to the entire band’s catalog of songs. The engaged crowd ranged from early twenties to late thirties with a few grey-haired loyals peppered throughout — No small feat to achieve such wide demographic appeal in an industry dominated by singles, tailored to narrow audiences.
Their own brand of harmony-laden, electronic-infused indie/folk rock pulls from many influences, some more subtle than others. The familiar elements in their sound aren’t absence of hooks, but they are masters of building anticipation as showcased in their latest single, “Then Again”. The maturity to their songwriting and arrangements is evident — even admirable, in a day when it’s commonplace for artists to write Post-Malone-esque chorus hooks into the first 10 seconds, shamelessly in hopes of boosting streams.
The set had a dynamic range with emotional performances from paced acoustic tempos with Warmest Regards and Narrow Margins to all out rock numbers such as Turn Your Love and Call Me In The Afternoon. Their set list was carefully crafted for their fans, feeling as though it carried its own narrative — from one song to the next having massive stadium-worthy sequences to suddenly feeling as close & intimate as smallest of house shows.
The four-piece seamlessly changed tempo, with polyrhythmic & asymmetric time signatures that even a crowd filled with seasoned Nashville musicians might be as baffled as they are impressed by. Each member would shift between positions on stage, showcasing their multiple-instrument prowess, further adding to the difficulty pigeon-holing them into one genre. Their setup was interesting to say the least; Double drum kits, each with their own electronic trigger-pad set up, a keyboards world at center stage with a lap steel snugged against it, and a rogue floor-tom drum positioned next to the lead singer. The logistics of fitting that sheer amount of instruments onto one stage is impressive, let alone being able to utilize them all in the same set.
The level of intricate thought put into every aspect of their production was apparent, from an immaculate, album-level sound mix (no small feat at Exit/In), impeccably nuanced vocals with interviewing harmonies, to syncopated lights with moody & thematic color schemes. It was a synesthete’s wet dream; A massive undertaking, sparing no expense to convey their music with both precision and in an emotionally compelling way.
It’s rare that this band makes it through the states, and it’s a show not to be missed. Be sure to catch Half Moon Run on the rest of their American Tour - see tour dates here.
